SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Sugar Land Police Department is searching for a serial burglar who has been burglarizing businesses along Highway 59.
Police said they responded to a call about criminal trespassing on April 15 at the Center for Women’s Health on Branford Place.
A man who was cleaning the building told police he heard a scratching sound at the door. The door suddenly opened, and there was a man holding two screwdrivers who fled the scene as soon as he saw the man who was cleaning, officials said.
According to the employee, the man was a “frail-looking white or Hispanic man in his 50s or 60s.”
Surveillance video of the moment shows the man in a fedora-style hat, a light blue shirt and jeans walking down the hall. When he opens the door where the man was working, the video shows the man looking surprised, before he flees.
Using that video, detectives were able to connect the man with multiple other similar crimes that date back to December, police said.
Authorities said the man is often seen wearing that same style hat and usually enters the business while cleaning crews are working in the evening.
Dr. Tarek Fakhouri, a burglary victim said, “It was very disheartening for us and it’s sad to hear that there may be other practices and business dealing with this right now.”
All of the businesses that were targeted are health care facilities, including the Skin Cancer Specialist where the thief stole money from a cash box.
“Any time you have a business where you have a theft or a burglary you worry about the safety,” explained Dr. Fakhouri.
The break-ins are spread out across the area and date back to December of last year.
Sugar Land police said other related cases include the following:
- On March 8, police responded to a theft at Koudelka Health Center, 15200 Southwest Freeway. An employee said furniture was out of place and cash was missing from a file cabinet when she arrived for work in the morning.
- Police responded to a burglary at Skin Cancer Specialist, 17510 Grand Parkway, on Dec. 31. The office manager said someone went through office cabinets and took money from a cash box.
- On Feb. 25, police were dispatched to the Women’s Specialist of Sugar Land, 16659 Southwest Freeway, for a burglary. An employee said she arrived to work and noticed locked doors were open and a bank bag was missing from inside a desk.
Many are hoping he’s caught soon.
“We don’t want people to be victims like we were, so hopefully he gets caught,” Dr. Fakhouri said.
Police say they may have a possible tentative ID of the man, but so far he’s not in custody.
Anyone with information should call Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477).